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The Dystopia We Never Saw Coming

Writer: ParlayMeParlayMe
Jan 193 min read

Author: Curt Doty



Road sign up ahead! We need to have a serious discussion about the current state of AI—how it’s being used, who it’s really benefiting, and where the hell it’s headed. As an

AI optimist, it’s hard not to feel a bit freaked out right now. We were promised a utopia, but we’re veering dangerously close to an AI dystopia instead. And I can’t help but

notice that many of the same players who shaped the tech-industrial complex around social media are now steering the ship for AI.


There’s no shortage of disturbing headlines coming out of the tech world. Sure, AI has the potential to transform everything from healthcare to government to environmental challenges. But the reality is, it’s getting derailed by political interference at every turn. The politicization of AI, combined with a total lack of regulation, isn’t just reckless—it’s setting the stage for powerful entities to hijack AI for their own agendas. And let’s be real: those agendas aren’t about solving global problems—they’re about control and profit.


Here’s the kicker: we’ve seen a clear political shift in Silicon Valley, with many in the industry throwing their weight behind the new administration and likely will provide algo- support for Project 2025. The policy agenda aims to expand presidential powers, impose a far-right social vision on the U.S., and drastically overhaul federal agencies. It’s no exaggeration to say that backing this kind of agenda amounts to signing up for a dystopian future for AI. And don’t think for a second that AI won’t be weaponized in that vision.


Let’s talk about the tech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who push this idea of “open content” on the web. It’s a phrase that sounds nice on paper, but it’s really just a loophole to justify rampant copyright infringement. The same people who claim to advocate for FREE SPEECH are, in reality, eroding the very systems that protect intellectual property and creativity and promote FREE HATE.


Here’s where things get really messy: the global regulation of AI. We need a framework that’s as robust and serious as the regulations we have around nuclear energy—something that can prevent disasters before they happen. But skepticism is running high. Between the dangers of misinformation, AI-generated revenge porn, and AI-driven extortion, the so-called utopia promised by the tech world feels more like a nightmare waiting to unfold.


On a personal note, I’m slowly making my exit from platforms like Facebook and Instagram—and I left X a while ago. I just don’t see the value for me or my clients anymore. The landscape is changing, and I’m looking for greener pastures—or should I say, bluer skies. TikTok, however, is still one to watch. It’s an amazing platform and has been the fastest way to build an audience. But let’s not kid ourselves: TikTok is no different from other platforms. The Chinese government has likely influenced public opinion through their algorithm, and they’ve almost certainly used all of the content on the app to train their AI. Whoever ends up buying TikTok will likely follow suit—because AI needs new data, and there’s a massive thirst for it.


Then there’s Frank McCourt, who’s looking to buy TikTok and completely change the way the internet works. His approach, grounded in Web3 principles, is one that I can get behind. It’s a vision of decentralization, empowering users rather than monopolizing them. If AI is going to evolve in a way that benefits society, we need more of this kind of thinking. The status quo? Not so much.



About the Author



Curt Doty is a regular ParlayMe AI Tech contributor and an award winning creative director whose legacy lies in branding, product development, social strategy, integrated marketing, and User Experience Design through CurtDoty.co. His work of entertainment branding includes Electronic Arts, EA Sports, ProSieben, SAT.1, WBTV Latin America, Discovery Health, ABC, CBS, A&E StarTV, Fox, Kabel 1, and TV Guide Channel. He has extensive experience on AI-driven platforms MidJourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Murf.ai, HeyGen, and DALL-E. He now runs his AI consultancy RealmIQ and companion podcast RealmIQ: Sessions on YouTube and Spotify.


He is a sought after public speaker having been featured at Streaming Media NYC,

Digital Hollywood, Mobile Growth Association, Mobile Congress, App Growth Summit,

Promax, CES, CTIA, NAB, NATPE, MMA Global, New Mexico Angels, Santa Fe

Business Incubator, EntrepeneursRx and AI Impact. He has lectured at universities

including Full Sail, SCAD, Art Center College of Design, CSNU and Chapman

University.


He currently serves on the board of the Godfrey Reggio Foundation.

 

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